Swimmer 'raped woman' after sex with friendpublished at 17:31 British Summer Time 5 April 2018
Otto Putland, who swam for Wales in the 2014 Commonwealth Games, denies the attack on the woman.
Read MoreSummary
Paedophile who 'preyed on boys' jailed for abuse
Murder arrest after woman's body found
'Serious' multi-vehicle M6 crash
Arrest over people-smuggling network
Burglar breaks into house and takes a bath
'H&M hamster' abandoned in park
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Updates from Friday 6 April
Swimmer 'raped woman' after sex with friendpublished at 17:31 British Summer Time 5 April 2018
Trains disrupted through Birminghampublished at 17:24 British Summer Time 5 April 2018
BBC News TravelTrains between Birmingham New Street and Birmingham International are being disrupted this evening:
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End of twitter postDecision 'could be imminent' on detained asylum seekerpublished at 17:10 British Summer Time 5 April 2018
Victoria DerbyshireAn asylum seeker who's been living in Stoke-on-Trent and has been held at a detention centre for nearly three months says she's been told a decision on her fate "could be imminent".
Image source, Opelo KgariOpelo Kgari and her mother Florence, who live in Burslem, were temporarily saved from deportation back to Botswana last month after MP Ruth Smeeth got involved with their case. , external
They're being held at the Yarl's Wood Centre, in Bedford, external, and Opelo has told the BBC today she is still hoping they'll be released but they haven't been told when a decision will be made.
The Home Office says it doesn't hold people indefinitely and detention is reviewed on a regular basis.
Quote MessageIt is quite hard not knowing what will happen next and not being given any form of indication as to what will happen next, what decision will be made and what our life will look like after this."
Opelo Kgari, Asylum seeker
Eliot Daly fit to join Wasps side to take on Sale Sharkspublished at 16:59 British Summer Time 5 April 2018
BBC Coventry & Warwickshire SportEliot Daly has overcome a badly dislocated finger to take his place in the Wasps side to meet Sale Sharks at the AJ Bell Stadium tomorrow.
Director of Rugby, Dai Young, said the opponents had "plenty of threats" but his side was "well-prepared" for the clash.
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End of twitter postZoo visitors queue for 'hours' outside attractionpublished at 16:45 British Summer Time 5 April 2018
Amy Woodfield
BBC NewsVisitors to Twycross Zoo have complained of long delays getting into the attraction today.
The zoo began operating a one-in one-out system from about midday leaving many people queuing outside for several hours.
Image source, Katie-Louise HopkinsOne person posting on the zoo's Facebook page, external said: "We got stuck for hours with three kids in the car. Now my kids aren't even going to the zoo and had their day ruined because of not being able to get past the traffic."
Another said: "We waited two hours queuing. Had to leave queue as had a hungry baby and five-year-old in the car."
Twycross Zoo is advising those planning to visit the zoo over the school holidays to "set out early".
Maternity wards closed 382 times last yearpublished at 16:32 British Summer Time 5 April 2018
More than 40% of trusts in England temporarily shut wards, figures obtained by Labour suggest.
Read MoreYour photos: Blue skies and sunshinepublished at 16:19 British Summer Time 5 April 2018
After the rain which was around yesterday, it looks like the West Midlands has been bathed in sunshine this morning.
Our BBC Weather Watchers have been recording plenty of blue skies in their photos:
Image source, FoggyImage caption, Ludlow
Image source, DammoImage caption, Edgbaston
Image source, Graham HImage caption, Rugby
In the papers: Warning over bouncy ball dangerspublished at 16:06 British Summer Time 5 April 2018
The top stories on the Shropshire Star's website today include:
Cancer patient 'moved to store cupboard'published at 15:53 British Summer Time 5 April 2018
Malcolm Boyden
Presenter, BBC Hereford & WorcesterA man being treated in hospital for stage four cancer says he woke up this morning in what he's called a store cupboard.
Image source, Martyn WellsMartyn Wells from Worcester is recovering after an operation at Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham.
He told BBC Hereford and Worcester that staff moved his bed overnight to a "dark haven" and he woke up to find it was a cupboard.
The University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust said he was moved to a "fully equipped" consultation room and such moves happened "when a ward reaches maximum capacity".
Quote MessageI'm surrounded by tubes and bungs and stoma bags and all sorts of nice things that you'd expect in a medical store cupboard but no wash facilities and not much in the way of dignity because people keep walking in to get supplies for other patients."
Martyn Wells, Cancer patient
Image source, Martyn WellsImage caption, Mr Wells says his new surroundings are essentially a cupboard
Quote MessageWhen a ward reaches maximum capacity a patient who is clinically fit for discharge may be moved into a consultation room to allow another patient with clinical needs to be transferred on to the appropriate ward. The consultation rooms such as the one occupied by Mr Wells are fully equipped clinical areas and are used to support capacity management across the hospital. The dignity and safe care of all of our patients remains our priority."
Police officer charged over system misusepublished at 15:52 British Summer Time 5 April 2018
PC Michelle Denne is accused of six counts of offences under the Computer Misuse Act.
Read MoreTwo more teens arrested over park attackpublished at 15:40 British Summer Time 5 April 2018
Vicky Breakwell
BBC Hereford and WorcesterTwo more teenagers have been arrested after a man , externalwas attacked and injured in a park.
Image source, GoogleThe victim, in his 40s, was walking in Bishops Meadow, Hereford, on 25 March when he was hurt.
He suffered head and chest injuries.
Police say they've arrested two boys aged 16 and 17, both from Hereford, on suspicion of assault causing grievous bodily harm and released them on bail.
It follows an earlier arrest of a 17-year-old boy on suspicion of assault. He has also been released on bail.
Murder bid arrests after gun firedpublished at 15:15 British Summer Time 5 April 2018
Two men have been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after a gun was fired from a car towards another vehicle in Cannock on Tuesday, police say.
No one was injured during the incident, which happened just after 15:30 on Tuesday in Rowley Close.
Two men from the Walsall area, aged 28 and 26, remain in police custody.
Crash causing M6 tailbackspublished at 14:57 British Summer Time 5 April 2018
BBC News TravelOne lane of the M6 northbound is closed between junctions 14 and 15 in Staffordshire following a crash involving a car and a lorry.
There's approximately seven miles of queuing traffic in the area, Highways England says.
Image source, Highways EnglandYoga class takes place on trainpublished at 14:52 British Summer Time 5 April 2018
Image source, PAA yoga class took place on a Chiltern Railways train yesterday.
The rail operator teamed up with the University of Oxford Mindfulness Centre on the Birmingham to London route and invited passengers to join in.
Commercial director Eleni Jordan said: "People are glued to their phones everywhere they go.
"Whilst a crucial part of our lives, there is great benefit in taking time to switch off.
"We wanted to create a space to promote mindfulness - where our passengers can sit back, reflect and re-energise."
Opposition to new student housingpublished at 14:48 British Summer Time 5 April 2018
Local Democracy Reporting ServiceOpponents of University of Worcester plans to build more housing in St John’s, external have raised fears of "rowdy behaviour" by students late at night.
Image source, GoogleThe university has put in a planning application for a 20-bedroom complex for students on Himbleton Road.
But neighbours in the area have complained , externalit would lead to more noise and disruption.
The university says it'll listen to feedback but has had no complaints about students already living on the road.
Notice served on RNIB to run facilitypublished at 14:33 British Summer Time 5 April 2018
An inquiry into the safeguarding of children at a Coventry centre for blind people is under way amid Charity Commission concerns over "incidents and shortcomings".
The investigation follows a serious incident at the RNIB Pears Centre for Specialist Learning in March.
Children's services regulator, Ofsted, told the RNIB it proposed to cancel its registration to run the residential site after a "series of increasingly poor monitoring reports".
Ofsted rated the Pears Centre “inadequate” in its most recent assessment, external, saying safeguarding was "ineffective" and the "instability in leadership means that capacity for further improvements is limited".
Eleanor Southwood, chair of the RNIB, said the charity has ordered an urgent review into standards.
She said: "We now have to demonstrate to Ofsted substantial improvements by mid-April and we will know Ofsted’s decision in mid-May.
“I am profoundly sorry that we have let down a group of children whose families have entrusted them to our care.”
In the papers: Man's body found on motorway bridgepublished at 14:31 British Summer Time 5 April 2018
Here are some of the stories making the headlines on the Coventry Telegraph website today:
Fears over blind centre children's safetypublished at 14:17 British Summer Time 5 April 2018
An inquiry is under way over concerns about the safeguarding of children and young people at a centre for the blind in Coventry.
The Charity Commission investigation follows a serious incident at the RNIB Pears Centre for Specialist Learning in the city on 2 March.
Image source, GoogleThe probe into the management of the residential setting was prompted by concern from the trustees of the RNIB and subsidiary charity RNIB Charity.
The inquiry began on 29 March. Harvey Grenville, head of investigations and enforcement at the Charity Commission, said: "The incidents and shortcomings at the Pears Centre are deeply concerning.
"The first priority of the trustees of both charities must now be to ensure that the vulnerable young people cared for at the centre are protected from harm. The charities have already taken some immediate steps in order to do so."
Mr Grenville said the commission's concerns were grave and it would be looking at the "approach that the trustees are taking to safeguarding overall".
The RNIB said it was "truly sorry that the level of service we’ve provided has not been good enough".
Backpacker's mum says she has to 'trust professionals'published at 14:14 British Summer Time 5 April 2018
Sandish Shoker
BBC NewsThe mother of backpacker Mia Ayliffe-Chung has been at court in Brisbane, Australia, where she heard all 16 charges have been dropped against Smail Ayad.
He was accused of murdering 20-year-old Mia and 30-year-old Tom Jackson from Cheshire, but the court decided he was of "unsound mind" and was suffering from psychosis brought on by long-term cannabis use.
Ms Ayliffe said: "If he is mentally ill and he needs treatment there is no point fighting that judgement. There were points during the procedure where I felt angry but I am not prepared to dwell in that place.
"I have to put that aside, I have to trust the professionals, I have to trust that those procedures were followed, and if I can do that, then I will find peace."
Coal heater blamed for woman's deathpublished at 14:13 British Summer Time 5 April 2018
A couple were exposed to at least three times the safe limit of carbon monoxide in their home.
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